apollo-cost-tuning by jeremylongshore

---
name: apollo-cost-tuning
description: |
  Optimize Apollo.io costs and credit usage.
  Use when managing Apollo credits, reducing API costs,
  or optimizing subscription usage.
  Trigger with phrases like "apollo cost", "apollo credits",
  "apollo billing", "reduce apollo costs", "apollo usage".
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Bash(gh:*), Bash(curl:*)
version: 1.0.0
license: MIT
author: Jeremy Longshore <[email protected]>
---

# Apollo Cost Tuning

## Overview
Optimize Apollo.io costs through efficient credit usage, smart caching, deduplication, and usage monitoring.

## Apollo Pricing Model

| Feature | Credit Cost | Notes |
|---------|-------------|-------|
| People Search | 1 credit/result | Paginated results |
| Email Reveal | 1 credit/email | First reveal only |
| Person Enrichment | 1 credit/person | Fresh data |
| Org Enrichment | 1 credit/org | Company data |
| Sequence Emails | Included | Plan limits apply |
| Export | Varies | Bulk operations |

## Cost Reduction Strategies

### 1. Aggressive Caching

```typescript
// src/lib/apollo/cost-aware-cache.ts
import { LRUCache } from 'lru-cache';

interface CachedContact {
  data: any;
  fetchedAt: Date;
  creditCost: number;
}

class CostAwareCache {
  private cache: LRUCache<string, CachedContact>;
  private creditsSaved = 0;

  constructor() {
    this.cache = new LRUCache({
      max: 10000,
      ttl: 7 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000, // 7 days for contact data
    });
  }

  getContact(email: string): CachedContact | null {
    const cached = this.cache.get(email);
    if (cached) {
      this.creditsSaved++;
      console.log(`Cache hit for ${email}. Total credits saved: ${this.creditsSaved}`);
    }
    return cached || null;
  }

  setContact(email: string, data: any, creditCost: number = 1): void {
    this.cache.set(email, {
      data,
      fetchedAt: new Date(),
      creditCost,
    });
  }

  getStats() {
    return {
      entriesCount: this.cache.size,
      creditsSaved: this.creditsSaved,
      estimatedSavings: this.creditsSaved * 0.01, // Assuming $0.01/credit
    };
  }
}

export const costAwareCache = new CostAwareCache();
```

### 2. Deduplication

```typescript
// src/lib/apollo/deduplication.ts
class DeduplicationService {
  private seenEmails = new Set<string>();
  private seenDomains = new Set<string>();

  async enrichContactSafe(email: string): Promise<any> {
    // Check if already enriched
    if (this.seenEmails.has(email)) {
      return costAwareCache.getContact(email);
    }

    // Check cache first
    const cached = costAwareCache.getContact(email);
    if (cached) {
      return cached.data;
    }

    // Fetch and cache
    const result = await apollo.enrichPerson({ email });
    costAwareCache.setContact(email, result, 1);
    this.seenEmails.add(email);

    return result;
  }

  async enrichOrgSafe(domain: string): Promise<any> {
    const normalizedDomain = domain.toLowerCase().replace(/^www\./, '');

    if (this.seenDomains.has(normalizedDomain)) {
      return costAwareCache.getContact(`org:${normalizedDomain}`);
    }

    const cached = costAwareCache.getContact(`org:${normalizedDomain}`);
    if (cached) {
      return cached.data;
    }

    const result = await apollo.enrichOrganization(normalizedDomain);
    costAwareCache.setContact(`org:${normalizedDomain}`, result, 1);
    this.seenDomains.add(normalizedDomain);

    return result;
  }
}

export const dedup = new DeduplicationService();
```

### 3. Smart Search Strategies

```typescript
// src/lib/apollo/cost-efficient-search.ts

/**
 * Cost-efficient search: Start broad, then narrow
 * Uses fewer credits by doing initial filtering before enrichment
 */
export async function costEfficientLeadSearch(criteria: LeadCriteria): Promise<Lead[]> {
  // Step 1: Search without enrichment (cheaper)
  const searchResults = await apollo.searchPeople({
    q_organization_domains: criteria.domains,
    person_titles: criteria.titles,
    per_page: 100,
    // Don't request emails yet - just basic info
  });

  // Step 2: Score and filter locally
  const scoredLeads = searchResults.people
    .map(person => ({
      ...person,
      score: calculateLeadScore(person, criteria),
    }))
    .filter(lead => lead.score >= criteria.minScore)
    .sort((a, b) => b.score - a.score)
    .slice(0, criteria.maxEnrichments || 25);

  // Step 3: Only enrich high-quality leads
  const enrichedLeads = await Promise.all(
    scoredLeads.map(async lead => {
      if (!lead.email) {
        // Only spend credit on email reveal if needed
        const enriched = await dedup.enrichContactSafe(lead.id);
        return { ...lead, ...enriched };
      }
      return lead;
    })
  );

  return enrichedLeads;
}

function calculateLeadScore(person: any, criteria: LeadCriteria): number {
  let score = 0;

  // Title match
  if (criteria.titles?.some(t =>
    person.title?.toLowerCase().includes(t.toLowerCase())
  )) {
    score += 30;
  }

  // Seniority
  if (['vp', 'director', 'c-level'].includes(person.seniority)) {
    score += 25;
  }

  // Has LinkedIn
  if (person.linkedin_url) {
    score += 15;
  }

  // Company size fit
  const employees = person.organization?.estimated_num_employees || 0;
  if (employees >= criteria.minEmployees && employees <= criteria.maxEmployees) {
    score += 20;
  }

  // Already has email (no enrichment needed)
  if (person.email) {
    score += 10;
  }

  return score;
}
```

### 4. Usage Monitoring

```typescript
// src/lib/apollo/usage-tracker.ts
interface UsageRecord {
  timestamp: Date;
  operation: string;
  credits: number;
  endpoint: string;
}

class UsageTracker {
  private records: UsageRecord[] = [];
  private monthlyBudget: number;
  private alertThreshold: number;

  constructor(monthlyBudget: number = 10000, alertThreshold: number = 0.8) {
    this.monthlyBudget = monthlyBudget;
    this.alertThreshold = alertThreshold;
  }

  track(operation: string, credits: number, endpoint: string): void {
    this.records.push({
      timestamp: new Date(),
      operation,
      credits,
      endpoint,
    });

    this.checkBudget();
  }

  private checkBudget(): void {
    const monthlyUsage = this.getMonthlyUsage();
    const usagePercent = monthlyUsage / this.monthlyBudget;

    if (usagePercent >= this.alertThreshold) {
      console.warn(`Apollo usage alert: ${(usagePercent * 100).toFixed(1)}% of monthly budget used`);
      // Could trigger webhook, Slack notification, etc.
    }

    if (usagePercent >= 1) {
      console.error('Apollo monthly budget exceeded!');
    }
  }

  getMonthlyUsage(): number {
    const startOfMonth = new Date();
    startOfMonth.setDate(1);
    startOfMonth.setHours(0, 0, 0, 0);

    return this.records
      .filter(r => r.timestamp >= startOfMonth)
      .reduce((sum, r) => sum + r.credits, 0);
  }

  getUsageReport(): UsageReport {
    const monthly = this.getMonthlyUsage();
    const byEndpoint = this.records.reduce((acc, r) => {
      acc[r.endpoint] = (acc[r.endpoint] || 0) + r.credits;
      return acc;
    }, {} as Record<string, number>);

    return {
      monthlyUsage: monthly,
      monthlyBudget: this.monthlyBudget,
      usagePercent: (monthly / this.monthlyBudget) * 100,
      byEndpoint,
      projectedMonthlyUsage: this.projectMonthlyUsage(),
      cacheSavings: costAwareCache.getStats().creditsSaved,
    };
  }

  private projectMonthlyUsage(): number {
    const now = new Date();
    const dayOfMonth = now.getDate();
    const daysInMonth = new Date(now.getFullYear(), now.getMonth() + 1, 0).getDate();

    const currentUsage = this.getMonthlyUsage();
    return (currentUsage / dayOfMonth) * daysInMonth;
  }
}

export const usageTracker = new UsageTracker(
  parseInt(process.env.APOLLO_MONTHLY_BUDGET || '10000'),
  parseFloat(process.env.APOLLO_ALERT_THRESHOLD || '0.8')
);
```

### 5. Budget-Aware Client

```typescript
// src/lib/apollo/budget-client.ts
export class BudgetAwareApolloClient {
  private dailyLimit: number;
  private todayUsage = 0;
  private lastResetDate: string = '';

  constructor(dailyLimit: number = 500) {
    this.dailyLimit = dailyLimit;
  }

  private checkDailyLimit(): void {
    const today = new Date().toISOString().split('T')[0];
    if (today !== this.lastResetDate) {
      this.todayUsage = 0;
      this.lastResetDate = today;
    }

    if (this.todayUsage >= this.dailyLimit) {
      throw new Error('Daily Apollo credit limit reached. Try again tomorrow.');
    }
  }

  async searchPeople(params: any): Promise<any> {
    this.checkDailyLimit();

    const result = await apollo.searchPeople(params);
    const creditsUsed = result.people.length;
    this.todayUsage += creditsUsed;
    usageTracker.track('search', creditsUsed, 'people/search');

    return result;
  }

  async enrichPerson(params: any): Promise<any> {
    this.checkDailyLimit();

    // Check cache first
    const cacheKey = params.email || params.linkedin_url || params.id;
    const cached = costAwareCache.getContact(cacheKey);
    if (cached) {
      return cached.data;
    }

    const result = await apollo.enrichPerson(params);
    this.todayUsage += 1;
    usageTracker.track('enrich', 1, 'people/enrich');
    costAwareCache.setContact(cacheKey, result, 1);

    return result;
  }

  getRemainingCredits(): number {
    return this.dailyLimit - this.todayUsage;
  }
}

export const budgetClient = new BudgetAwareApolloClient();
```

## Cost Optimization Checklist

- [ ] 7-day cache for contact data
- [ ] Deduplication for emails and domains
- [ ] Score leads before enrichment
- [ ] Daily/monthly usage limits
- [ ] Usage alerts at 80% threshold
- [ ] Cost metrics in monitoring dashboard
- [ ] Regular usage report reviews
- [ ] Team-level budget allocation

## Output
- Cost-aware caching strategy
- Deduplication service
- Smart search scoring
- Usage tracking and alerts
- Budget-aware API client

## Error Handling
| Issue | Resolution |
|-------|------------|
| Budget exceeded | Pause operations, alert team |
| High cache misses | Extend TTL, review patterns |
| Duplicate enrichments | Audit dedup logic |
| Unexpected costs | Review usage reports |

## Resources
- [Apollo Pricing](https://www.apollo.io/pricing)
- [Apollo Credit System](https://knowledge.apollo.io/hc/en-us/articles/4415144183053)
- [Usage Dashboard](https://app.apollo.io/settings/billing)

## Next Steps
Proceed to `apollo-reference-architecture` for architecture patterns.